Corrugated flexible hose

ABSTRACT

A corrugated flexible hose of a predetermined length of walled hollow tubular material. The wall includes convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length. The convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall are dimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutions of the wall to thereby provide a stiffer portion at least at one end of the hose to facilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of the hose.

United States Patent [191 Huston et al.

[111 [451 Feb. 26, 11974 CORRUGATED FLEXIBLE HOSE [75] Inventors: Paul0. Huston, Montville;

Hermann Karl Seipp, Nutley; Arduino E. Riuli, Wayne, all of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company,

- East Rutherford, NJ.

[22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,914

[52] US. Cl. 138/121 [51] Int. Cl. F161 11/00 [58] Field of Search138/121, 118,173, 109;

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,547,431 7/1925 Mallory138/121 X 2,025,067 12/1935 Miller l38/l09X Primary Examiner-George E.Lowrance Attorney, Agent, or Firml(ane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan andKurucz [5 7] ABSTRACT A corrugated flexible hose of a predeterminedlength of walled hollow tubular material. The wall includes convolutionsof alternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of itslength. The convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall aredimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutions of the wallto thereby provide a stiffer portion at least at one end of the hose tofacilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose.

16 Claims, Drawing Figures CORRUGATED FLEXIBLE HOSE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Low cost flexible tubing which is easy to manufacture andversatile in its use is extremely desirable. It has been found thataplastic molded hose or tube can be manufactured with convolutions orcorrugations along its length to give it flexibility and render ituseful in many applications. Connecting cuffs can be provided onpredetermined lengths of the corrugated tubing for use with varioustypes of equipment such as inhalation therapy systems. A flexible hoseof this type is shown and described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,313,319 issuedto Osborn et al on April 11th, 1967.

Although the hose material described and defined in that patent isuseful as a flexible hose, the degree of flexibility is ofteninconvenient in some respects. For example when the hose material astaught by the prior art is to be connected to an external member, theflexibility of the material is so great that it becomes unwieldy for theoperator to easily connect and disconnect the hose to the externalmember. This is naturally of great disadvantage in the inhalationtherapy field where it is often imperative that the equipment beassembled in a quick and efficient manner to provide aid and assistanceto patients. Consequently, it would be extremely advantageous to providea hose material which retains its flexibility without detracting fromrapid interconnection with external members and which has connectingportions which facilitate quick and efficient assembly and disassemblyoperations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the above background in mind, it is amongthe primary objectives of the present invention to provide a moldedflexible hose material with convoluted or corrugated wall surfaces toprovide flexibility and having convolutions of varied dimensions so thatthe convoluted portions adjacent to each end of the hose material are.stiffer to facilitate gripping and interconnection with an externalmember. Furthermore, extending open ended cuffs are contemplated whichare flared toward the open end to facilitate insertion and removal ofexternal members. The end portion of each cuff distal from the open endthereof contains an annular internal locking detent to receive inlocking engagement a projection on an external member to facilitatepositive assembly of the hose to the external member.

In summary, a corrugated flexible hose of a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material is provided. The wall of the hoseincludes convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along asubstantial portion of its length. The convolutions adjacent at leastone end of the wall are dimensionally varied from the remainder of theconvolutions of the wall to thereby provide a stiffer portion at the atleast one end of the hose to facilitate connection to a member whileretaining flexibility of the hose. With the development of a newgeometry for the hose material, the invention achieves an optimizedbalance of crush resistance, flexibility and complianc'e.

With the above objectives, among others, in mind, reference is had tothe attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flexible corrugated hose of the inventionshown connected to an external member; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hose 20 is a hollow tubularmember of predetermined length with a hollow interior through passageway21. Hose 20 includes a central portion 21 with a corrugated wall surfaceand a pair of cuffs 22 at the terminal ends with a cylindrical wallsurface. Each end portion of corrugated wall 21 contains fourconvolutions 23 which are dimensioned differently from the convolutions24 therebetween along the wall surface 21. In turn, each of theconvolutions 24 are of substantially the same dimensions andconvolutions 23 are all of substantially the same dimensions. Thevariation in dimensions between convolutions 24 and 23 are to sat isfyseparate functions. The convolutions 24 are more flexible than theconvolutions 23 and retain the inherent flexibility of the convolutedtubing 21. In contrast, the differently dimensioned convolutions 23 aremore rigid and make the end portions of the hose more rigid tofacilitate gripping and connection to an external member such asmouthpiece 25 as shown in the drawmgs.

The particular environment in mind with the embodiment depicted would bea hose for use in an inhalation therapy system. By providingconvolutions 24 to main tain maximum flexibility while incorporatingconvolutions 23 at the terminal ends of tube 21, the user is able tomaintain a more rigid end portion to the hose to facilitate couplingprocedure without material loss of flexibility of the hose 20. It shouldbe kept in mind that, although in the embodiment shown, there are twoopposing end portions having convolution types 23 and opposing cuffs 22extending therefrom, it is possible to envision convolutions 23 at onlyone end of the hosing and similarly only one cuff employed with thehose. The particular environment in use would naturally determine thearrangement of convolutions and cuffs utilized. Similarly, the fact thatthere are four convolutions 23 at each end is once again a matter ofchoice and the ratio of convolutions 23 to convolutions 24 depends uponthe particular use and environment.

Turning to consideration of the cuffs 22, the walls of each cuff 22flare outwardly from their inner end 26 to their open outer end 27. Thetaper or flare facilitates insertion and removal of an external membersuch as mouthpiece 25 during assembly of hose 22 in an equipment system.Additionally, adjacent to inner end 26 is an annular locking detent 28for engagement with a corresponding projection 29 on an external member25 to lock the external member 25 in position. A second annularprojection 211' on the mouthpiece 25 is spaced from the first annularprojection 29 and is adapted to engage with the inner wall of cuff 22 toassist in retaining the mouthpiece in fixed position. The externalmember is inserted through the open terminal end 27 of cuff 22 until itsannular projection 29 snaps into locking detent 28 at which timeassembly is completed. Normal operating forces will not be sufficient todisplace projection 29 from detent 28 and additionally the naturalresilience of hose 20 will cause it to neck down when external axialforce is applied and assist in retaining external member 25 in lockedposition. For disassembly purposes, a greater than normal force isemployed to axially pull hose and external member is opposite directionsand displace projection 29 from detent 28 permitting easy removal ofmember 25 through the flared opening in cup 22.

Returning to specific dimensions of the convolutions 23 in contrast tothe convolutions 24, in general convolutions 23 which are adjacent toeach cuff 22 are of larger outside diameter, have greater wallthickness, and are shallower than convolutions 23 thus providing arelatively stiffer section than that in the central portion of hose 20.The stiffer section facilitates assembly of the hose to an externalrigid member as discussed above. The development of a new geometry forthe convolutions in regard to dimensions and axial relationship, anoptimized balance of crush resistance, flexibility and compliance isachieved.

As shown, convolutions 23 have a greater outer diameter 30 than theouter diameter 31 of convolutions 24.

Although variations are readily apparent, the following dimensionalcriteria for convolutions 23 and 24 have been found to worksatisfactorily in the present design. In regard to the stifferconvolutions 23, the wall thickness at the crest 32 is nominally 0.020inches. In contrast, the wall thickness at the root or trough 33 isnominally 0.028 inches. Therefore, in general the crest thickness 32 isapproximately two-thirds that of the root or trough thickness 33.

The convolution depth 34 of each convolution 23 is approximately 14percent of the internal diameter 35 of hose 20. The respective radii ofconvolutions 23 are in a ratio whereby the internal radii 36 of theroots or troughs are approximately two-and-a-half times that of theinternal radii 37 of the crests.

In contrast, the more flexible convolutions 24 have been found to worksatisfactorily with the following dimensional criteria. The wallthickness of crest 38 of each convolution 24 is nominally 0.008 inchesand the wall thickness of trough 39 of each convolution 24 is nominally0.028 inches. In general, the crest thickness 38 is approximately onequarter to one third of the root or trough thickness 39. The convolutiondepth 40 of each convolution 24 is approximately 22 percent of theinternal diameter 41 of hose 20. Finally, the radii of the individualconvolutions 24 are dimensioned as follows. Each crest 38 has an outsideradius 42 of approximately 0.045 inches and each root or trough 39 isflat and parallel to the axis of hose 20.

Hose 20 is constructed of a molded plastic material and as discussedabove can be dimensioned in respect to the corrugated portion and thecuffs as required.

Thus, the above discussed objectives of the invention, among others, areeffectively attained.

We claim:

1. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall being of uniformdimension and being dimensionally varied from the remainder of theuniformly dimensioned convolutions of the wall so as to provide astiffer portion at said at least one end of the hose to facilitateconnection to a member while retaining flexibility of the hose andretaining relative uniform dimensioning of the hose by utilizing onlytwo different size convolutes along the length of the hose.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall are shallower than the remainderof the convolutions of the wall.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein the depth of theconvolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall is approximately 14percent of the internal diameter of the hose and the depth of theremainder of the convolutions is approximately 22 percent of theinternal diameter of the hose.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one end ofthe hose terminates in a hollow open ended cuff to facilitate removableconnection of the hose to a member.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein the at least onecuff is flared outwardly toward the open end thereof and contains anannular internal detent adjacent to the convolutions of the hose toreceive a corresponding projection on a member and facilitates removableconnection of the hose to the member.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hose isconstructed of a plastic material.

7. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the wall including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall being a largeroutside diameter, of greater wall thickness, and shallower than theremainder of the convolutions of the wall thereby providing a stifferportion of the hose to facilitate removable connection to a member whileretaining flexibility of the hose.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall include a crest wall thickness ofapproximately 0.020 inches and a trough wall thickness of approximately0.028 inches and a convolution depth of approximately l6 percent of theinternal diameter of the hose, the remaining convolutions of the wallincluding a crest wall thickness of approximately 0.008 inches and atrough wall thickness of approximately 0.028 inches and a convolutiondepth of approximately 19 percent of the internal diameter of the hose.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall include troughs with internalradii approximately twoand-a-half times that of the internal radii ofthe crests thereof, and the remainder of the convolutions includingcrests with outside radii approximately 0.045 inches and flat troughsparallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein there is at leastone open ended hollow cuff extending from a terminal end of the hose tofacilitate removable connection to a member.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one cuffis flared outwardly toward the open end thereof and includes an annularlocking detent therein adjacent to the convolutions of the hose andadapted to receive a corresponding projection on a member removablyconnected to the hose.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the hose isconstructed of a plastic material.

13. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the

walls including convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along asubstantial portion of its length, the convolutions adjacent at leastone end of the wall being dimensionally varied from the remainder of theconvolutions of the wall so as to provide a stiffer portion at said atleast one end of the hose to facilitate connection to a member whileretaining flexibility of the hose, and the convolutions adjacent atleast one end of the wall being of larger outside diameter than theremainder of the convolutions of the wall.

14. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingdimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutionsof the wallso as to provide a stiffer portion at said at least one end of the hoseto facilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose, and the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingof larger outside diameter than the remainder of the convolutions of thewall, the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall havingtroughs with internal radii approximately two-and-a-half times that ofthe crests and the remainder of the convolutions having crests withoutside radii of approximately 0.045 inches and troughs that are flatand parallel to the axis of the hose.

15. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the

walls including convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along asubstantial portion of its length, the convolutions adjacent at leastone end of the wall being dimensionally varied from the remainder of theconvolutions of the wall so as to provide a stiffer portion at said atleast one end of the hose to facilitate connection to a member whileretaining flexibility of the hose, and the convolutions adjacent atleast one end of the wall being of greater wall thickness than theremainder of the convolutions of the wall.

16. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingdimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutions of the wallso as to provide a stiffer portion at said at least one end of the hoseto facilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose, and the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingof greater wall thickness than the remainder of

1. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined length ofwalled hollow tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall being of uniformdimension and being dimensionally varied from the remainder of theuniformly dimensioned convolutions of the wall so as to provide astiffer portion at said at least one end of the hose to facilitateconnection to a member while retaining flexibility of the hose andretaining relative uniform dimensioning of the hose by utilizing onlytwo different size convolutes along the length of the hose.
 2. Theinvention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the convolutions adjacentat least one end of the wall are shallower than the remainder of theconvolutions of the wall.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2wherein the depth of the convolutions adjacent at least one end of thewall is approximately 14 percent of the internal diameter of the hoseand the depth of the remainder of the convolutions is approximately 22percent of the internal diameter of the hose.
 4. The invention inaccordance with claim 1 wherein at least one end of the hose terminatesin a hollow open ended cuff to facilitate removable connection of thehose to a member.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 whereinthe at least one cuff is flared outwardly toward the open end thereofand contains an annular internal detent adjacent to the convolutions ofthe hose to receive a corresponding projection on a member andfacilitates removable connection of the hose to the member.
 6. Theinvention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hose is constructed ofa plastic material.
 7. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: apredetermined length of walled hollow tubular material, the wallincluding convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along asubstantial portion of its length, the convolutions adjacent at leastone end of the wall being a larger outside diameter, of greater wallthickness, and shallower than the remainder of the convolutions of thewall thereby providing a stiffer portion of the hose to facilitateremovable connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein theconvolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall include a crest wallthickness of approximately 0.020 inches and a trough wall thickness ofapproximately 0.028 inches and a convolution depth of approximately 16percent of the internal diameter of the hose, the remaining convolutionsof the wall including a crest wall thickness of approximately 0.008inches and a trough wall thickness of approximately 0.028 inches and aconvolution depth of approximately 19 percent of the internal diameterof the hose.
 9. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein theconvolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall include troughs withinternal radii approximately two-and-a-half times that of the internalradii of the crests thereof, and the remainder of the convolutionsincluding crests with outside radii approximately 0.045 inches and flattroughs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hose.
 10. The inventionin accordance with claim 7 wherein there is at least one open endedhollow cuff extending from a terminal end of the hose to facilitateremovable connection to a member.
 11. The invention in accordance withclaim 10 wherein at least one cuff is flared outwardly toward the openend thereof and includes an annular locking detent therein adjacent tothe convolutions of the hose and adapted to receive a correspondingprojection on a member removably connected to the hose.
 12. Theinvention in accordance with claim 15 wherein the hose is constructed ofa plastic material.
 13. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: apredetermined length of walled hollow tubular material, the wallsincluding convolutions of alternate crests and troughs along asubstantial portion of its length, the convolutions adjacent at leastone end of the wall being dimensionally varied from the remainder of theconvolutions of the wall so as to provide a stiffer portion at said atleast one end of the hose to facilitate connection to a member whileretaining flexibility of the hose, and the convolutions adjacent atleast one end of the wall being of larger outside diameter than theremainder of the convolutions of the wall.
 14. A corrugated flexiblehose comprising: a predetermined length of walled hollow tubularmaterial, the walls including convolutions of alternate crests andtroughs along a substantial portion of its length, the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall being dimensionally varied fromthe remainder of the convolutions of the wall so as to provide a stifferportion at said at least one end of the hose to facilitate connection toa member while retaining flexibility of the hose, and the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall being of larger outside diameterthan the remainder of the convolutions of the wall, the convolutionsadjacent at least one end of the wall having troughs with internal radiiapproximately two-and-a-half times that of the crests and the remainderof the convolutions having crests with outside radii of approximately0.045 inches and troughs that are flat and parallel to the axis of thehose.
 15. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined lengthof walled hollow Tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingdimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutions of the wallso as to provide a stiffer portion at said at least one end of the hoseto facilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose, and the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingof greater wall thickness than the remainder of the convolutions of thewall.
 16. A corrugated flexible hose comprising: a predetermined lengthof walled hollow tubular material, the walls including convolutions ofalternate crests and troughs along a substantial portion of its length,the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingdimensionally varied from the remainder of the convolutions of the wallso as to provide a stiffer portion at said at least one end of the hoseto facilitate connection to a member while retaining flexibility of thehose, and the convolutions adjacent at least one end of the wall beingof greater wall thickness than the remainder of the convolutions of thewall, the wall thickness of the convolutions adjacent at least one endof the wall including a crest wall thickness of approximately 0.020inches and a trough wall thickness of approximately 0.028 inches and theremainder of the convolutions including a crest wall thickness ofapproximately 0.008 inches and a trough wall thickness of approximately0.028 inches.